Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: The Federal Government’s vowing to implement sweeping changes to the child care sector as Parliament returns next week. It comes after those shocking allegations of child sexual abuse. Let’s go live to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Jess Walsh. Jess, thanks for your time. This is going to be one of the first things that the Government does in the next Parliament.

SENATOR DR JESS WALSH, MINISTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND MINISTER FOR YOUTH: Yeah, that’s right, Kieran, because making sure that every child is safe in early childhood education is really our top priority right now. We know that every child should be safe, but that there’s more to do right now to make sure that that’s the case and to make sure that parents are confident that their children are safe too. And that’s why we’re introducing legislation right into the first week of Parliament to make sure that we have the power to cut Commonwealth funding to those providers who put profit ahead of child safety. And our message is really clear to those providers: we want you to lift your game or to leave the sector.

GILBERT: And I know it’s a story that so many of our viewers, for parents, for Australians around the country, when you heard about the stories and read about it, it is just heartbreaking, sickening, the allegations that have been made, Minister. So, I know the Education Ministers are meeting again in August. Obviously, this will be on the agenda there too.

WALSH: Yeah, that’s right, Kieran. These are really distressing allegations. Distressing for the families of children who are directly affected, distressing for really all parents of children in early childhood education and distressing for the community who are watching now. We’ve called an urgent meeting of Education Ministers where this will be the top priority. Indeed, it’s a standalone meeting focused on child safety in early childhood education and care. And I am confident that we will bring a strong package of reform, because right now, the Commonwealth, the states and the territories are working shoulder to shoulder on this issue. 

And one of the big reforms that we want to bring is the first nationwide register of early childhood educators. I think we’ve seen in the last few weeks just how important that is. We need to know where early childhood educators are working. We need to be able to spot patterns of behaviour that are concerning. We need to be able to monitor where our early childhood educators are. And of course, I have to stress, Kieran, that the vast majority of early childhood educators are going to work every day doing the right thing. They are taking excellent care of our nation’s children. But there are serious problems, and this register will help raise red flags where they need to be seen.

GILBERT: Well, yeah, indeed. And the vast bulk are doing a great job as well. And we know how important it is not just to the education of young ones, to give them a chance to socialise and get that early education, which research shows is so important, but also for the economy to enable workforce participation and the rest of it. The Prime Minister, in fact, says he wants it as one of his legacy items, universal child care. What needs to be done? What do you think that looks like?

WALSH: Well, it’s great to have a Prime Minister who believes in the benefits of quality universal early childhood education, because as you said, Kieran, it can be a game changer for children. We know that children who go through quality early childhood education are better prepared for school and they’re really well prepared for the opportunities that life can bring as well. Universal early education really means that every child gets access to that benefit, no matter what their parents do and no matter what their postcode is. We’re getting underway with the work already of building that universal early education system. One of the big reforms in our first term was around the workforce and making sure that we have good, quality, committed, long term, stable early childhood educators. And that 15 per cent pay rise is having big dividends right now, Kieran.

GILBERT: Ok, and before you go, I just want to play this comment, this is from Tanya Plibersek, she was speaking earlier in the day in relation to the latest scandal around Mark Latham.

TANYA PLIBERSEK: I’m sure that there are plenty of people scratching their heads about his portrait being up in the caucus room and giving consideration to whether it’s appropriate or not.

GILBERT: Yeah, the tradition is for Labor leaders, for both parties, actually, but the Labor Caucus, you’ve got all the leaders on the wall. What do you think? Should Latham’s portrait go, should it be pulled down?

WALSH: I think, Kieran, when I walk into the caucus room next week for the 48th Parliament, for the second term, Albanese Labor Government, you know, we’ll have the portraits of the former Labor leaders on the left. We also have on the right, as you walk in, a women’s wall. And that wall has the portraits of some of our amazing women leaders. And I think next week I’ll be choosing to look up at that wall of amazing women leaders who’ve done so much good work for women around the country and indeed for all Australians.

GILBERT: And would you feel better if the former leader, Mr Latham, was deposed from that? He hasn’t been a member for more than 20 years.

WALSH: Yeah, Mr Latham’s term as the Labor leader really well precedes my time. We have the portraits of the Labor leaders there on the left, we’ve got our first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, when you walk into the room. I think for me, Kieran, Mark Latham is not someone who’s going to get any free rent in my brain next week. I’m really focused on the achievements that we’ve made in the first term and what we can do next.

GILBERT: Minister, thanks for your time. I appreciate it.

WALSH: Thanks, Kieran.

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Applying for a SAP

An entity’s accounting period is ordinarily the 12-month period ending on 30 June.

You can seek leave from the Commissioner to adopt an alternative annual accounting period (known as a substituted accounting period or SAP).

Use the Application for a substituted accounting period (NAT 5087, PDF 1.7MB)This link will download a file form to:

• apply for a SAP
• revert to a standard accounting period ending 30 June.

When you apply, you must provide:

• a reason for requesting a SAP
• supporting evidence.

Find out what supporting evidence you need to provide and why it’s important to lodge as early as possible. For guidance on circumstances that warrant granting a SAP, see Law Administration Practice Statement PS LA 2007/21 Substituted Accounting Periods.

We accept retrospective or out-of-date applications in limited circumstances. See PS LA 2007/21 for details.

If you’ve been granted leave to adopt a SAP, you must meet different lodgment requirements.

See Substituted Accounting Periods to find out:

• your lodgment date
• tax agent concessions
• more about how SAPs work.

Transitioning to a SAP

When you adopt a SAP, the end date of your accounting period changes. This usually results in a transitional period of more or less than 12 months. You must lodge an income tax return for the transitional period.

We will determine and notify you of your transitional period when we approve your SAP.

To better understand your transitional period, see examples of transitional periods for scenarios including:

• first time lodgers
• existing entities
• entities exiting consolidated groups.

When you’ve adopted a SAP, the new accounting period will involve either late or early balancing in relation to a 30 June year end. Whether you are late or early is determined when your application is approved.

For more on how and when an entity transitions to a SAP, see PS LA 2007/21.

What tax return form to use

Prepare your tax return on the form for the year in lieu of which the accounting period has been adopted. For example:

• if you adopted a SAP ending 31 December 2024 you’re an early balancer
• your transitional period is in lieu of the following income year ending 30 June, being the year ended 30 June 2025
• this means you should prepare your tax return on the 2025 tax return form.

We try to release tax time stationery as early as possible. However, if the relevant form has not been produced by the date you wish to lodge, you must use the most recently available tax return form, whether lodging electronically or by paper.

If you are transitioning to a SAP, you must lodge a paper form if you are:

• not lodging the entity’s first tax return
• lodging before we release next year’s tax time stationery.

For more information, see what tax return form to use and Example 5 – early December SAP.

Franking period

Your transitional period will affect your franking period.

For a corporate tax entity that is not a private company, the franking period depends on the length of its income year. The franking period is different for an early or late balancing corporate tax entity that has adopted a SAP.

Lodging additional information for early balancers

Tax return labels may change when new stationery is released.

If you’re an early balancer and lodged using the most recent tax return form, you may need to lodge an amendment if label changes are relevant to your circumstances.

We expect to publish draft details of tax return label changes each year in December. Where further changes are required due to law changes not currently known or anticipated, we will update the tax return label changes and provide further advice.

Tax return label changes

To help early balancers, each year we provide information on label changes we expect in the new tax time stationery to be released at the end of May.

While tax returns can be lodged from 1 January, our processing for the new labels will not take place before our system is deployed in June 2025.

Company Tax Return 2025

For a list of all changes to the Company Tax Return 2025, refer to the Company Tax Return 2025 Instructions – What’s new for companies?

Reportable tax position schedule 2025

The Reportable tax position schedule and instructions 2025 was published in early 2025.

Tax return instructions for SAPs

You should consider if the Reportable tax position schedule applies.

Source: New South Wales – News

Police and paramedics were called to Laurence Street, South Plympton at 4.45pm on Thursday 17 July by reports of an assault.

The victim, a 44-year-old South Plympton man, was confronted by a man and woman not known to him and assaulted.

He sustained serious head and facial injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance. His condition is not life-threatening.

A 26-year-old South Plympton man was arrested by Southern District CIB detectives last night and charged with aggravated assault cause harm.  He was refused police bail and will appear in court today.

Following further investigations, a 26-year-old South Plympton woman, was arrested this morning and charged with aggravated assault cause harm.  She was refused police bail and is expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday 21 July.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or has any information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

CO2500029306

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Welcome and governance

The ATO Co-chair welcomed members and ATO attendees to the Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group (TPSG) Tax Time 2025 meeting.

ATO Updates

Frontline Services

We confirmed 1.6 million lodgments have been received. This is a 10% decrease from the same time last year, indicating that our messaging around ‘wait to lodge’ is working with taxpayers choosing to lodge later. Lodgment numbers for self-preparers have decreased 6% and agents down 11% compared to this time last year. We emphasised that it is too early to make any assumptions around these numbers and expect this to level out as tax time progresses.

We have received 44,000 calls from agents, which is 10% down from last year. We highlighted this is as expected, noting call numbers typically follow lodgment trends.

As of 14 July, there have been 467,000 refunds issued to taxpayers, totalling almost $1.2 billion with an average refund amount of around $2,500. With safety nets released, the first refunds landed into taxpayers’ accounts on Friday 11 July as planned.

IT system updates and maintenance

Tax Time Support systems are currently marked green and operating well.

There was a system glitch with myGov login identified with Services Australia impacting Online Services for Individuals, however this has now been resolved. Individuals using the ATO app were not impacted during this time.

ATO Digital services

We noted that digital services are operating as intended and there is nothing to report.

ATO Communications

We have started to see social media attention from taxpayers expressing disappointment in their refund amounts or shock at a tax debt. We noted this reinforces the need for the ‘back to basics’ approach with education and communication.

We have recently updated key tax time resources in 19 languages to help support tax professionals who have clients who prefer information in languages other than English.

The ATO’s Tax and Super Basics media and social media campaign commenced on 13 July, targeting diverse language communities with information to support them with their tax and super obligations.

We continue to support tax practitioners by promoting the ATO’s troubleshooting guide, which can help tax agents get up-to-date information about the availability of ATO online systems and known issues.

As the quarterly BAS lodgment date nears, we are reminding businesses about the due date, and that they may get until 25 August to lodge and pay if they lodge through a registered tax or BAS agent.

ATO communications is highlighting the importance of providing the correct information about family income to private health insurance providers to ensure taxpayers received the right private health insurance rebate.

Member comments

Members expressed the need for a cultural shift around taxpayers’ entitlement to a tax refund. They stated an increasing number of taxpayers are posting to social media their dissatisfaction when they receive an unexpected tax bill at tax time.

We acknowledged that there are many reasons why a taxpayer may receive a tax bill, i.e. gig economy, multiple incomes, PAYGI etc. Members queried if ATO communications can share greater awareness around why some taxpayers may be receiving a tax bill.

Small Business

We have released the Small Business Tax Time toolkit, which has useful information, guides and tools to help small business taxpayers stay informed and organised this tax time.

We have rectified an issue raised relating to ATO website links directing some users to old content. This issue was resolved within 48 hours of being identified and all links are linking to the right content.

Superannuation

As of Monday morning 14 July, 83% of Single Touch Payroll (STP) records have been finalised. There were additional reminders issued on Friday 11 July through ATO social media channels.

We reminded tax agents to ensure employers who haven’t lodged their STP finalisation declarations as of COB Monday 14 July, to do so without delay as they are now overdue. Doing so will ensure employees have the right information to lodge their 2024–25 income tax returns.

Tax agents should make sure their clients have finalised data for all employees paid during the financial year. This includes employees that their clients may have not paid in a while, like employees or casuals who stopped work for them during the year.

Individuals

We will issue a media release around how to help protect yourself against scams next week. We prompted tax agents to remind their clients to be cautious of scams during tax time.

Member comments

Members queried whether there are any plans to issue comms to inform taxpayers who they should contact if they suspect instances of fraud. We confirmed this media release is to educate taxpayers and share the Verify or report a scam | Australian Taxation Office link to help taxpayers recognise any warning signs of tax scams, verify a suspected scam or report a scam.

Member Insights and Experience

Member comments

A member raised reports from tax agents that they are receiving correspondence for incorrect clients through Practice Mail in OSfA. We requested further details to investigate this matter.

A member raised an issue in relation to a super lump sum amount not being visible in pre-fill. We acknowledged the previously identified CSC issue and requested further details to understand if this matter is related.

A member raised a question around the frequency of PAYGI correspondence to tax agents. We asked for examples of these correspondences to investigate this further.

Useful links

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Two more boys charged over alleged assault in Hobart CBD

Friday, 18 July 2025 – 2:22 pm.

Police have laid charges against two further boys over the alleged assault of a teenage boy in Hobart’s CBD on Wednesday.
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with aggravated robbery, stealing, injure property, trespass and unlawfully tamper or interfere with a motor vehicle. He has been bailed to appear in the Hobart Youth Justice Division in August.
A 13-year-old boy has been charged with aggravated robbery, injure property and stealing. He has been bailed to appear in the Hobart Youth Justice Division in August.
These arrests are in addition to:
A 14-year-old boy charged with aggravated robbery, stealing, destroy property, unlawfully tamper or interfere with a motor vehicle, and bail offences. He appeared in court on Thursday night.
A 12-year-old boy charged with aggravated robbery, common assault, stealing and unlawfully tamper or interfere with a motor vehicle. He was bailed to appear in the Hobart Youth Justice Division in August.
A 14-year-old boy will be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.
The charges stem from an altercation at the grassed area of Mathers Lane, in Hobart’s central business district, about 2.05pm on Wednesday in which police allege a 14-year-old boy was assaulted and had his iPhone stolen.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au (quote Offence Report 780149).
Tasmania Police thanks the public for their continued support and cooperation.

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Today the Albanese Labor Government is starting consultation on sustainable investment product labelling, to give investors more confidence to put more capital to work in sustainable products.

The release of this paper is a key step in implementing the Government’s Sustainable Finance Roadmap.

The Roadmap is all about helping to mobilise the capital required for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower, modernising our financial markets and maximising the economic opportunities from net zero.

This consultation paper seeks views from investors, companies and the broader community on a framework for sustainable investment product labels.

These labels will help investors and consumers identify, compare, and make informed decisions about sustainable investment products to understand what ‘sustainable’, ‘green’ or similar words mean when they’re applied to financial products.

A more robust and clear product labelling framework will help investors and consumers invest in sustainable products with confidence and help tackle greenwashing.

This is another practical step in the Roadmap to improve how we measure progress, manage risk, demonstrate results and mobilise the investment we need to reach net zero and other sustainability goals.

This phase of consultation will run from 18 July to 29 August and help the Government refine its design principles for the framework.

The consultation paper is available on the Treasury consultation hub.

Source:

Volunteers Di Billingsley and Phil Graham have been recognised with an Executive Director’s Citation for Service by Bushfires Northern Territory (NT).

The award recognises their role in delivering critical bushfire training to 60 new NT volunteers and Park Rangers in 2023 during a time when NT instructors were actively deployed to the firefront. This filled a critical gap and helped urgently build capability.

While Phil received his citation last year upon returning to the NT, Di was recently presented with the award by DCO Operational Doctrine and Capability Rohan Luke.  

“I was deeply honoured to be able to present Di her Citation on behalf of Bushfire NT for her work in 2023,” Rohan said.

“She was humbled and surprised, but it was a moment well deserved for her dedication and service.”

The Executive Director’s Citation for Service recognises individuals who have performed a direct service of a meritorious nature or an outstanding action in response to wildfire.

Submitted by	CFA News

Source: Airservices Australia

Granting of Overseas Clearing and Settlement Facility Licence to Clearstream Banking S.A.

The RBA welcomes ASIC’s decision to grant Clearstream Banking S.A. (Clearstream) a clearing and settlement facility licence.

Clearstream plays an important part in the Australian debt securities market. It is important the RBA and ASIC, as co-regulators of clearing and settlement facilities operating in Australia, are able to have sufficient oversight of such facilities. The licence granted by ASIC will support this oversight.

The RBA has completed an initial licensing assessment of Clearstream against the relevant obligations under Part 7.3 of the Corporations Act 2001. The RBA and ASIC have also entered into a memorandum of understanding with Clearstream’s home regulators, Banque centrale du Luxembourg and the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. The RBA will rely on the supervision of Clearstream’s home regulators, where appropriate, consistent with the Reserve Bank’s Approach to Supervising and Assessing Clearing and Settlement Facility Licensees.